Children’s Theatre racks up awards at annual shows

Students from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati took home several awards earlier this month at an annual performing arts showcase for talented young people.

The Junior Theater Festival Atlanta event, held at the Cobb Convention Center from Jan. 17-19, featured a weekend of singing, dancing, acting and learning. Nearly 140 groups from 30 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, Australia and New Zealand participated in the event.

Each group presented a piece from a well-known musical in front of a panel of judges, each an esteemed actor or theater educator. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati presented an excerpt from “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley JR.”

Not only was TCT selected for JTF’s New Works Showcase of “Shrek The Musical KIDS”, the group took home an award for Excellence in Ensemble Work for the third year in a row.

On the individual side of things, a pair of TCT students, Sienna McClain and Parker Patton, earned recognition as Junior Theater Festival Performance All-Stars, a select group of outstanding performers. TCT’s Paul Mitchell Smith won the Freddie G. Teacher of the Year Award. 

Judge Deborah Wicks La Puma described TCT’s effort as “a wonderfully energetic performance filled with wacky fun characters giving their all.” 

“It was a joy to watch them have a blast with every twist of the story,” added La Puma, composer of “Elephant and Piggie’s We Are In A Play.” They performed beautifully complex harmonies effortlessly!”

Other judges included Khalia Davis, producing artistic director of The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, and Tom Jackson Greaves, UK director and choreographer of “Head Over Heels” and “Whistle Down The Wind.” 

“Clearly, this theatre program is infusing their students with a passion and hunger for performance,” Greaves said of the TCT team. “Each individual embodied confidence, joy and teamwork as they shared their artistic skill with such brilliance.”

No stranger to on-stage success

Founded in 1919, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is the oldest professional theatre for young audiences in the country. In addition to its performances, the organization is also dedicated to training the next generation of actors.

In recent years, it has expanded its offerings to provide more opportunities for student performers to gain stage experience and training in all aspects of theatre. This includes private lessons, camps, and the TCT Academy, which provides comprehensive instruction in live theater production to children. As a JumpStart program, TCT offers tuition-free training and helps students attend industry events, such as the JTF .

The TCT team has had impressive showings at these national showcases in recent years, particularly at JTF Atlanta. For example, in 2024, Avery Silvestain won the Freddie G Outstanding Individual Performance Award, and she and Benjamin Abes-Feldman earned callbacks for special projects for upcoming musicals. Shawn Bilyeu, Mackenzie Cook and Alex Talbot did the same thing in 2023.

Beyond performing, the groups also enjoyed a New Works Showcase featuring excerpts from upcoming Broadway Junior musicals presented by JTF groups, as well as mainstage performances with Broadway guests. They also participated in workshops.

“So much time and hard work goes into this festival each year that showcases the talent of our students and staff,” TCT wrote on Facebook following the event. “Congratulations to all!”